Compare towns
Salem vs Meredith vs Rupert
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Salem has the most people working from home (22.8%).
Meredith has the most kids (17% under 18).
Rupert has the most expensive homes ($363k median).
What matters to you?
Pick a few. We’ll pull those rows to the top and mark which town comes out ahead on each. There’s no overall score: what matters is up to you.
| Measure | Salem | Meredith | Rupert |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,611Highest |
1,467 |
676Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 47.5±4.2Lowest 22% above U.S. |
54.3±4.6 40% above U.S. |
57.8±9.7Highest 49% above U.S. |
| Rupert and Meredith are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 16.2%±3.9 U.S.: 22% |
17%±4.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
13.9%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Meredith and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 22.9%±5.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
30.8%±4 U.S.: 17.2% |
42.3%±8.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Rupert and Meredith are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 31.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
33.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
30.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.4%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.1%±2.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Rupert and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $83,398±$12kLowest 3% above U.S. |
$85,938±$16k 6% above U.S. |
$88,229±$36kHighest 9% above U.S. |
| Rupert and Meredith are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $196,000±$26kLowest 41% below U.S. |
$230,600±$24k 31% below U.S. |
$362,500±$63kHighest 9% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $948±$40Highest 33% below U.S. |
$794±$175Lowest 44% below U.S. |
— |
| Salem and Meredith are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,908 25% above U.S. |
$3,630Lowest 16% above U.S. |
$4,594Highest 47% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.1%±7.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
53.1%±53.6Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
20%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Meredith and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 17.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 77.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
92.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
93.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
1976Highest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1955 25 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 11% above U.S. |
33 minHighest 23% above U.S. |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 22.8%±12.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.1%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.6%±9.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Salem and Rupert are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #376 of 484 in NY | — | — |
| School district | SALEM CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT | — | — |
| High school in town | SALEM HIGH SCHOOL | — | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 8.5 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. average · Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates 2020–2024; 2010 & 2020 decennial census; NCES Common Core of Data. “±” is the Census margin of error. Property tax is top-coded by the Census at $10,000+. School rank compares math and reading proficiency against the state average.